smart

Electric is the future. smart CEO Annette Winkler already said so last time we talked with her about the smart vision EQ fortwo concept EV. Now Mercedes-Benz is echoing that slogan as well. At the Geneva Motor Show, smart and Mercedes-Benz showed off the power their combined passion for pushing the electric campaign forward. The result is the smart EQ fortwo and forfour. For those in the US, these are the familiar all-electric cars that have been silently rolling in cities. For Europe and for the future, these two are the heralds of Mercedes-Benz’s dreams of an all-electric world.

Moleskine has expanded its smart writing system with the addition of its new Pen + Ellipse product. The smart pen combines traditional ink with tech to make handwritten content compatible with modern gadgets. Anything created with the pen is automatically detected, converted, and sent to a related tablet or smartphone where it can be accessed and used digitally.

Voice control is the latest fad in consumer tech and that reality is underscored by a new announcement from HP: it will soon offer voice-activated home printers. By doing so, the company explains, it will be the first printer business to offer "intuitive voice commands" via major smart speaker products, namely through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft's Cortana.

Swann, the company best known for its video surveillance products, has announced the Swann Video Doorbell, a connected lock for your home or office. As with other connected smart locks, the Swann Video Doorbell allows users to view and talk to their visitors anywhere in the world, as long as there's a decent Internet connection. The Video Doorbell boasts multiple features, including night vision.

Amazon has patented a smart mirror that uses virtual clothing and mirrors to help consumers decide what to buy. This isn't the first time we've seen the idea of a smart mirror for modern shopping; it is, however, a bit unique from the others. The mirror doesn't just show virtual clothing overlaid onto the potential buyer's body -- it also puts virtual scenes in the background, helping the customer visualize what they would look like on, for example, the beach.

Roku has announced several big changes that underscore the company's own push into the smart home market. The company has officially unveiled Roku Entertainment Assistant, its own voice assistant for verbally controlling Roku OS devices. In addition, Roku has launched a new licensing program for "whole home entertainment" that will allow OEM brands to make smart home entertainment devices that work with Roku OS.

Roku has confirmed the acquisition of Dynastrom, a Danish multi-room audio startup that will continue to operate out of Denmark as a Roku subsidiary. In confirming the acquisition, Roku said the business move was a way to expand its own engineering team, but the talent grab comes amid a wider rumor: that Roku is planning to launch its own smart speaker to take on Echo, Google Home and more.

Logitech has announced that its Circle 2 models now work with Google Assistant, the latest functionality to arrive for these small circle-shaped home security cameras. This announcement follows Logitech's addition of Apple HomeKit support for the Circle 2 this past September. With the new support, owners can access their security camera feeds using voice commands.

Wink has unveiled a new home safety system called Lookout, an IoT option for home owners and renters who want a connected way to protect their home. Wink Lookout is described as an all-in-one offering that is composed of three different products: sensors for windows and doors, a motion sensor, and a Siren & Chime device. These components are connected together via the Wink Hub.

At CEATEC 2017 in Japan, Panasonic has shown off a prototype machine it calls CaloRieco ("Calorie co"). The machine looks like a cross between a 3D printer and a microwave, but it is neither -- it is a machine that intelligently evaluates food and determines approximately how many calories it contains.

LIFX has announced that its current Lifx and Lifx+ lineup of WiFi smart bulbs now work with Apple HomeKit. Thanks to this new support, current and future Lifx smart bulb owners are able to control their home or office's lighting using their iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or other Apple product. The new support is available now.

A startup based in Santa Cruz, California has launched a smart pet food scoop that keeps track when when your dog eats, automatically ordering more food when the existing bag is running low. The scoop is designed to make feeding a dog easier and more organized, in part using LEDs to indicate whether it is time to feed the dog or whether someone has already done so.